As humans continue to stay indoors under lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Earth is slowly healing. This seems to be a time when people can see how big and how strong their impact is on nature, wildlife, and the environment.
This is the time humans recognize they are a huge part of the environment and that every step they take, can either make or break something in mother nature.
So what has the pandemic changed in the environment? Let’s have a quick look!
As Italy, the country of beautiful architecture and rich culture, became one of the most highly affected countries, it’s environment started to change. To the good side luckily!
For the first time in recent years fish, jellyfish, and even other water animals were seen in the canals of Venice as it became completely tourist-free. In the time of the pandemic, less boats (“gondolas” as the Italians say) are now seen in Venice.
India, the country with 1.3 billion population has always been known as one of the most polluted in the world. But now, as coronavirus has taken over leaving Indians indoors, there has been an enormous change in the environment.
People in India can see the Himalayas for the first time in ‘decades’, as the level of air pollution had reduced.
The same happened to other major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Milan, Barcelona, London, Moscow, etc. The cities that suffer from the world’s worst air pollution have seen reductions of air pollution by up to 60% compared to the previous year. First China, then Italy, now the UK, Germany, and dozens of other countries are experiencing temporary falls in carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide of nearly 40 percent, greatly improving air quality and reducing the risks of asthma, heart attacks, and lung disease. Isn’t this amazing?!
With the air pollution level reduced, wild animals start to come out of their “comfort zone” roaming in the cities. It’s so interesting. It seems like for a while they have taken the role of the humans!
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world is shaking less than ever! Why you may ask? Because aviation has slowed down and now there are fewer airplanes in the sky flying. This makes the sky cleaner as the huge amount of smoke from the airplane engines is not put in the sky anymore.
After decades of non-stop pressure, the human footprint on the earth has suddenly lightened. With less human movement, the planet has calmed and now is healing.
Written by Nellie Melkonyan